EKG Rhythm Interpretation Packet 2024 UPDATE
GRADED A+
What does the principle of automaticity infer? - ANSWER: That there is no required
CNS input to form an action potential. This is esspeically true of nodal cells that
create atrial and venricular contractions. (Slide 6)
What is the principle of rhythmicity mean? - ANSWER: That a certain pattern of cell
firing will occur at regular intervals. (Slide 6)
What are intercalated discs? - ANSWER: Gap junctions that are all or nothing so that
the ventricles and atria contract at the appropriate times.
What is a absolute refractory period? - ANSWER: A period where cells CAN NOT fire
again because that cells just fired and are still too positive to create an action
potential.
What is a relative refractory period? - ANSWER: A period when another action
potential CAN be formed because the cells have returned to a negative state, but
have NOT yet returned to baseline.
The purkinje fibers are considered the tertiary pacemakers firing at __-__ bpm. -
ANSWER: 20-40 (Slide 7)
What group of fibers carry the impulse from the left atria to the right atria after the
SA node fires? - ANSWER: Bachmann's bundle (Slide 7)
The AV node is located at the base of the right atrium and can act as a backup
pacemaker if the SA node is no longer functioning firing at a rate of __-__ bpm. -
ANSWER: 40-60 (Slide 7)
At the AV node there is a AV nodal delay to allow what mechanical processes to
occur? - ANSWER: Atrial contraction, thus the last 20% of ventricular filling. (Slide 7)
The AV nodal pause (PR interval) should be between ___-___ seconds normally. -
ANSWER: 0.12 to 0.20 (Slide 9)
Why are the waveforms represented by downward deflections in the aVR view on a
12 lead EKG? - ANSWER: The impulse is moving away from the positive electrode in
this view. (Slide 12)
When monitoring rhythm what is the difference between hard-wired and telemetry?
- ANSWER: Hard-wired has a wall connection that will limit mobility; telemetry can
remotely trace the rhythm so the patient can move around more freely. (Slide 13)
, What is the purpose of holster monitors? - ANSWER: The device is worn at home for
a period of time to monitor the rhythm during ADL.
What are the three bipolar limb leads? - ANSWER: Leads I, II, III (Slide 16)
What are the three unipolar limb leads? - ANSWER: aVR, aVL, aVF (Slide 16)
Leads I, II and aVF should be ______ deflections which would indicate a normal
impulse. - ANSWER: Upright (Slide 20)
Chest leads record activity in the ________ plane and are all ________. - ANSWER:
Horizontal; unipolar (Slide 22)
V1 is a five lead placement that can provide good information about ____________
activity. - ANSWER: Ventricular (Slide 25)
What are the 4 leads that provide a lateral views of heart activity? - ANSWER: I, aVL,
V5, V6 (Slide 28)
What are the 4 leads that provide a anterior view of heart activity? - ANSWER: V1,
V2, V3, V4 (Slide 28)
What are the 3 leads that provide a inferior view of heart activity? - ANSWER: II, III,
aVF (Slide 28)
MCL1 has a __________ electrode over the 4th intercostal space just to the right of
the sternum and a ___________ electrode over the 2nd intercostal space mid-
clavicular line on the upper left chest or outer third of the left clavicle. - ANSWER:
Positive; Negative (Slide 29)
MCL1 is used better to monitor for _____________ dysrhythmias. - ANSWER:
Ventricular (Slide 30)
Dysrhythmias result from altered __________ and/or ____________. - ANSWER:
Conduction; rhythmicity (Slide 32)
Rhythms are classified by the site of origin. What four main areas are we worried
about? - ANSWER: Sinus, Atrial, Junctional, Ventricular (Slide 32)
"________" beats are beats that originate from locations other than the sinus node.
- ANSWER: Ectopic (Slide 32)
PTs need to be concerned with how __________ affects __________ and how
_________ affects __________. - ANSWER: Rhythms; activity; activity; rhythms (Slide
32)
GRADED A+
What does the principle of automaticity infer? - ANSWER: That there is no required
CNS input to form an action potential. This is esspeically true of nodal cells that
create atrial and venricular contractions. (Slide 6)
What is the principle of rhythmicity mean? - ANSWER: That a certain pattern of cell
firing will occur at regular intervals. (Slide 6)
What are intercalated discs? - ANSWER: Gap junctions that are all or nothing so that
the ventricles and atria contract at the appropriate times.
What is a absolute refractory period? - ANSWER: A period where cells CAN NOT fire
again because that cells just fired and are still too positive to create an action
potential.
What is a relative refractory period? - ANSWER: A period when another action
potential CAN be formed because the cells have returned to a negative state, but
have NOT yet returned to baseline.
The purkinje fibers are considered the tertiary pacemakers firing at __-__ bpm. -
ANSWER: 20-40 (Slide 7)
What group of fibers carry the impulse from the left atria to the right atria after the
SA node fires? - ANSWER: Bachmann's bundle (Slide 7)
The AV node is located at the base of the right atrium and can act as a backup
pacemaker if the SA node is no longer functioning firing at a rate of __-__ bpm. -
ANSWER: 40-60 (Slide 7)
At the AV node there is a AV nodal delay to allow what mechanical processes to
occur? - ANSWER: Atrial contraction, thus the last 20% of ventricular filling. (Slide 7)
The AV nodal pause (PR interval) should be between ___-___ seconds normally. -
ANSWER: 0.12 to 0.20 (Slide 9)
Why are the waveforms represented by downward deflections in the aVR view on a
12 lead EKG? - ANSWER: The impulse is moving away from the positive electrode in
this view. (Slide 12)
When monitoring rhythm what is the difference between hard-wired and telemetry?
- ANSWER: Hard-wired has a wall connection that will limit mobility; telemetry can
remotely trace the rhythm so the patient can move around more freely. (Slide 13)
, What is the purpose of holster monitors? - ANSWER: The device is worn at home for
a period of time to monitor the rhythm during ADL.
What are the three bipolar limb leads? - ANSWER: Leads I, II, III (Slide 16)
What are the three unipolar limb leads? - ANSWER: aVR, aVL, aVF (Slide 16)
Leads I, II and aVF should be ______ deflections which would indicate a normal
impulse. - ANSWER: Upright (Slide 20)
Chest leads record activity in the ________ plane and are all ________. - ANSWER:
Horizontal; unipolar (Slide 22)
V1 is a five lead placement that can provide good information about ____________
activity. - ANSWER: Ventricular (Slide 25)
What are the 4 leads that provide a lateral views of heart activity? - ANSWER: I, aVL,
V5, V6 (Slide 28)
What are the 4 leads that provide a anterior view of heart activity? - ANSWER: V1,
V2, V3, V4 (Slide 28)
What are the 3 leads that provide a inferior view of heart activity? - ANSWER: II, III,
aVF (Slide 28)
MCL1 has a __________ electrode over the 4th intercostal space just to the right of
the sternum and a ___________ electrode over the 2nd intercostal space mid-
clavicular line on the upper left chest or outer third of the left clavicle. - ANSWER:
Positive; Negative (Slide 29)
MCL1 is used better to monitor for _____________ dysrhythmias. - ANSWER:
Ventricular (Slide 30)
Dysrhythmias result from altered __________ and/or ____________. - ANSWER:
Conduction; rhythmicity (Slide 32)
Rhythms are classified by the site of origin. What four main areas are we worried
about? - ANSWER: Sinus, Atrial, Junctional, Ventricular (Slide 32)
"________" beats are beats that originate from locations other than the sinus node.
- ANSWER: Ectopic (Slide 32)
PTs need to be concerned with how __________ affects __________ and how
_________ affects __________. - ANSWER: Rhythms; activity; activity; rhythms (Slide
32)
